Successful people think like successful people. How do some always seem so happy, fulfilled, and focused on a clear mission? Their secret is not that difficult. If you too will just apply effort every day towards controlling what you think you will see a definite difference, transformation, and change in your actions and level of success.

Here are 7 habits that when practiced daily can make a big difference in your life.

1. Know Your Life Mission and Work Hard Daily Towards It

Know your mission in life and do something each day that contributes towards that mission. The momentum you will experience from simply working hard and staying focus will help you achieve more than you think you possible.

2. Focus Most of Your Time and Energy on What Is Most Important in Life

Your time, energy, and talents should be focused on what is most important to you in life. Yes, we all have to earn a living and “trade time for dollars”, but don’t let that necessity pull you away from staying grounded in your mission.

3. Surround Yourself With Motivational People

Minimize your time with those that can be discouraging and maximize your time with those that are motivational. It is much more productive and rewarding to surround yourself with those that can motivate you and help keep you from getting distracted from your mission.

4. Align Your Goals With Your Mission

Is something holding you back from achieving your goals in life? Sometimes goals do require that you overcome hurdles in order to achieve them, but don’t let that fact keep you from having the courage to take one step at a time towards success.

5. Drink Coffee Regularly With Trusted Friends

Proactively seek out opportunities to network with friends and colleagues, especially those that can help keep you motivated. Be open and honest with them and you’ll grow in many ways through mentoring, friendship, and encouragement.

6. Swim Upstream Against the Current

Some of the most successful people in history have deviated from the norm by deciding not to necessarily swim the river in the same direction everyone else does. Be courageous, convicted, and independent in your thoughts and opinions. Stick with your beliefs and stay on course with your mission even when others try to knock you off course.

7. Break Projects Into Achievable Milestones

Lofty goals can so often seem completely unattainable. Don’t let necessary hard work and dedicated time keep you from moving forward with plans. In particular, for large projects with lofty goals, break them down into smaller achievable milestones. Create an outline of the steps necessary to reach each milestone and check off steps in the outline as they are completed. Never forget as well that taking that first step towards achieving the first milestone is in many cases the most important step in the journey.

If you feel like you are not as happy or successful as you would like to be, consider adopting these 7 simple ideas into your everyday life and I promise you will be surprised by the results you witness and the transformation you experience in your life.

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do and He will establish your plans”
(Proverbs 16:3)

How do you view the coming year? Are there new possibilities right around the corner that promise to challenge and grow you? Or, are you like so many that are trapped in the habits or shortcomings of the past? The new year is upon us and is a white sheet of paper. Commit yourself to a few realistic and achievable goals and you won’t regret it. Goals give us something to work towards… something to help keep us focused. Set goals that take you out of your comfort zone and God will bless your efforts.

Don’t just casually commit goals to memory, but rather write them down; or better yet find a computer application or an app on your phone or tablet that allows you to notate your goals and track them throughout the year. Let’s challenge ourselves to establish goals in four different areas.

Spiritual goals(John 15:5) Spiritual growth doesn’t just happen. Decide to devote some time and energy to jump-starting spiritual growth:

1. Read the Bible each day and commit to read it entirely before the end of the year.

What a powerful message for a very complex, misguided, and lost world. Its simplicity encourages me, and it challenges me to work hard at blocking out all the noise around me and focusing on the people and activities that are truly important and meaningful in life. Thank you God for the strength and peace you bless me with every day.

One thing that is not a secret is that the Cracker Barrel serves a great breakfast every day of the week. Something that is growing some momentum that is may not be known by many is a monthly breakfast that is attended by some of the Tusculum men every first Monday of the month at a local Cracker Barrel just off I-65 and Harding Road. While most of the guys are retired…I don’t think it is a qualification to attend…only a big appetite.

What is funny at the table is how the conversation goes from loud before the food comes to an erie silence after the food arrives. It is amazing to see the guys throw down the eggs, country ham, sausage, biscuits, bacon, grits, hash browns and pancakes. It is like George Hunt says, “If I pay for it…I’m gonna eat it all”

So whether you like Uncle Hershel’s Breakfast, the Old Timers, or Mommas Pancake Breakfast make come and join us for a little food and fellowship on the 1st Monday of the Month at 8 am at the Cracker Barrel.

See you there on the 1st Monday of Every Month for Tusculum’s “Wise Men Breakfast” – Seasons Greetings!

If you missed out on our “Wild Game and Games Night” held Friday, November 14th, you missed out on a lot of good food and fellowship. The food was plentiful, the gym was packed, and the competition fierce for our recent fellowship headed up by the Men’s Ministry. There was so much food…venison, fish, and frog legs dominated the entrees, add some sides and desserts…no one left the night hungry. After supper some guys played a little cards and just enjoyed the evening catching up with old friends and making new ones. As planned a 16 team Corn Hole Tournament was held which saw the team of Kenny Burlason and Mark Beaster become the Champions going undefeated for the night, with the team of Steve Cummings and Bill Graham placing runner-up. But, when it came down to the end of the night, everyone who came…left a winner.

“Naked a man comes from his mother’s womb, and as he comes, so he departs.” Ecclesiastes 5:15 NIV

Think for just a moment about the things you own. Think about the house you have, the car you drive, the money you’ve saved. Think about the stocks you’ve traded and the clothes you’ve purchased. Envision all your stuff, and let me remind you of two biblical truths.

Your stuff isn’t yours. Ask any coroner…No one takes it with him. When one of the wealthiest men in history, John D. Rockefeller, died, his accountant was asked, “How much did John D. leave?” The accountant’s reply? “All of it.”

All that stuff—it’s not yours. And you know what else about all that stuff? It’s not you. Who you are has nothing to do with the clothes you wear or the car you drive. Jesus said, “Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot” (Luke 12:15 MSG). Heaven does not know you as the fellow with the nice suit or the woman with the big house or the kid with the new bike.

People with high self control are happier than those without. This is true because self disciplined people are more capable of dealing with goal conflicts. These people spend less time debating whether to indulge in behaviors detrimental to their health, and are able to make positive decisions more easily. The self disciplined do not allow their choices to be dictated by impulses or feelings. Instead, they make informed, rational decisions on a daily basis without feeling overly stressed or upset. Despite what many may think, self discipline is a learned behavior. It requires practice and repetition in your day-to-day life. Improved self discipline will allow you to live a freer life by helping you to make healthy choices, not emotional ones. Give these 5 simple suggestions a shot.

remove temptations and distractions – set yourself up for success by ditching bad habits

exercise and eat right – allow you brain to focus on your goals and priorities instead of on your growling stomach

don’t wait for it to “feel” right – when a behavior becomes habit, we stop using our decision-making skills and instead function on auto-pilot

schedule breaks, treats and rewards for yourself – self-discipline can be hard so reward your efforts

forgive yourself and move forward – just KEEP MOVING FORWARD no matter how many setbacks you may experience along the way

It is not too late for you guys to come and join in on the fellowship tonight at 6:30 in the Tusculum Gym for the Wild Game Dinner and Games night. Come and eat, come and play, but the most important thing is for you to just come and join the other men in the congregation for some time of just making new friends and getting together with some old friends.

Bring a dish to share, a game to play, but the main thing is just bring yourself.

Deciding to live life outside of what others consider to be the “norm” can feel like swimming upstream, jumping waterfalls and lying exhausted on the edge of the bank… just like the salmon.

I think we’re going to the moon because it’s in the nature of the human being to face challenges. It’s by the nature of his deep inner soul… we’re required to do these things just as salmon swim upstream. Neil Armstrong

Remember, a dead fish can float downstream, but it takes a live one to swim upstream. W.C.Fields

My life is what a salmon must feel like. They are always going upstream, against the current. Laura Schlessinger

Throw your net on the other side of the boat; take the message of the good news to the Gentiles; be kind to your enemies and pray for them; seek not the things of the world, which rust and can be stolen, but seek first the Kingdom of God and store up treasures in Heaven. Jesus Christ

Final preparations are being made for a night of fellowship for this Friday night, November 14th, beginning at 6:30, the guys will gather in the gym and share a dinner of wild game and fixings. There will be chicken, venison, ribs, and turkey and who knows what else might be brought. Afterwards there will be some corn hole, cards, and other games to play.

The only thing missing may be you!

If you have not had a a chance to signed up feel free to call or text David Gee at 615-479-5127 or email him at dgeeman@comcast.net and let him know that you are coming and what you might bring as far as food and/or games.